Improving the accuracy of eyewitness testimony : Cognitive interview

Question 1

define cognitive interview ?

Answer 1

a method of interviewing eyewitnesses to help them retrieve more accurate memories

Question 2

what are the four main techniques used in cognitive interview ?

Answer 2

1. report everything
2. reinstate the context
3. reverse the order
   4 . change perspective

Question 3

what is the enhanced cognitive interview ?

Answer 3

Fisher et al.
- some additional elements of the Ci to focus on the social interaction

Question 4

what does the enhanced cognitive interview include ?

Answer 4

reducing eyewitness anxiety
- minimising distractions
getting the witness to speak slowly
- asking open - ended questions

Question 5

evaluation - support for the effectiveness of the CI - strength

Answer 5

P - it works
E - meta analysis by Kohnken et al. combined data from 55 studies comparing to CI w interview - 41% increase in accurate info compared to interview
E - CI effective technique in helping witnesses to recall info that is stores in memory but not immediately accessible

Question 6

evaluation - CI is time consuming - limitation

Answer 6

P - takes time and training than standard police interview
E - need to establish rapport and relax witness - CI requires special training
E - complete CI is not a realistic method for police officers to use and it might be better to focus on a few key elements